Award honoring authors and screenwriters
The USC Scripter Award (Scripter) is the name given to an award presented annually by the University of Southern California (USC) to honor both authors and screenwriters . Starting in 1988, the USC Libraries Board of Councilors award the year's best film adaptation of a printed work, recognizing the original author and the screenwriter.
In 2016, a second Scripter award, for episodic series adaption, was added. The Literary Achievement Award honors significant contributions to storytelling across form, genre, and medium. The Ex Libris Award recognizes long-time supporters of the USC Libraries. The latter two awards are presented on an occasional basis. Per the Scripter Awards website, "Scripter celebrates writers and writing, collaboration, and the profound results of transforming one artistic medium into another. It stands as an emblem of libraries’ ability to inspire creative and scholarly achievement."[ 1]
Film
1980s
1990s
2000s
Year
Film
Nominees
Source Material
2000
Wonder Boys Steve Kloves The book by Michael Chabon
All the Pretty Horses Ted Tally The novel by Cormac McCarthy
Chocolat Robert Nelson Jacobs The novel by Joanne Harris
High Fidelity D. V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink , John Cusack , and Scott Rosenberg
The novel by Nick Hornby
The House of Mirth Terence Davies The novel by Edith Wharton
2001
A Beautiful Mind Akiva Goldsman The book by Sylvia Nasar
Bridget Jones's Diary Andrew Davies , Helen Fielding , and Richard Curtis The novel by Fielding
In the Bedroom Robert Festinger and Todd Field
The short story Killings Andre Dubus
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Fran Walsh , Peter Jackson , and Philippa Boyens The novel The Fellowship of the Ring J. R. R. Tolkien
The Shipping News Robert Nelson Jacobs The novel by E. Annie Proulx
2002
The Hours David Hare The novel by Michael Cunningham
About Schmidt Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor The novel by Louis Begley
Adaptation Charlie Kaufman The book The Orchid Thief Susan Orlean
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Fran Walsh , Stephen Sinclair , Peter Jackson , and Philippa Boyens The novel The Two Towers J. R. R. Tolkien
The Pianist Ronald Harwood The memoir by Władysław Szpilman
2003
Mystic River Brian Helgeland The novel by Dennis Lehane
Seabiscuit Gary Ross The book Seabiscuit: An American Legend Laura Hillenbrand
Cold Mountain Anthony Minghella The novel by Charles Frazier
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Fran Walsh , Peter Jackson , and Philippa Boyens The novel Return of the King J. R. R. Tolkien
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Peter Weir and John Collee The novel by Patrick O'Brian
2004
Million Dollar Baby Paul Haggis The book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner F.X. Toole
The Bourne Supremacy Tony Gilroy The novel by Robert Ludlum
The Door in the Floor Tod Williams The novel A Widow for One Year John Irving
Friday Night Lights Peter Berg , Buzz Bissinger , and David Aaron CohenThe book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
Sideways Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor The novel by Rex Pickett
2005
Capote Dan Futterman The novel by Gerald Clarke
Brokeback Mountain Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana The short story by E. Annie Proulx
The Constant Gardener Jeffrey Caine The novel by John le Carré
A History of Violence Josh Olson The graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke
Syriana Stephen Gaghan The memoir See No Evil Robert Baer
2006
Children of Men David Arata , Alfonso Cuarón , Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby , and Timothy J. SextonThe novel The Children of Men P. D. James
The Devil Wears Prada Aline Brosh McKenna The novel by Lauren Weisberger
The Illusionist Neil Burger The short story Eisenheim the Illusionist by Steven Millhauser
The Last King of Scotland Jeremy Brock and Peter Morgan The novel by Giles Foden
Notes on a Scandal Patrick Marber The novel by Zoë Heller
2007
No Country for Old Men Joel Coen and Ethan Coen The novel by Cormac McCarthy
Atonement Christopher Hampton The novel by Ian McEwan
Into the Wild Sean Penn The book by Jon Krakauer
There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson The novel Oil! Upton Sinclair
Zodiac James Vanderbilt The book by Robert Graysmith
2008
Slumdog Millionaire Simon Beaufoy The novel Q & A Vikas Swarup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Eric Roth and Robin Swicord The short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Iron Man Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby , Art Marcum and Matt Holloway The comic by Stan Lee , Larry Lieber , Don Heck , and Jack Kirby
The Reader David Hare The novel by Bernhard Schlink
Revolutionary Road Justin Haythe The novel by Richard Yates
2009
Up in the Air Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner The novel by Walter Kirn
Crazy Heart Scott Cooper The novel by Thomas Cobb
District 9 Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell The short film Alive in Joburg
An Education Nick Hornby The memoir by Lynn Barber
Precious Geoffrey S. Fletcher The novel Push Sapphire
2010s
Year
Film
Nominees
Source Material
2010[ 2]
The Social Network Aaron Sorkin The book The Accidental Billionaires Ben Mezrich
127 Hours Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle The book Between a Rock and a Hard Place Aron Ralston
The Ghost Writer Robert Harris and Roman Polanski The novel The Ghost
True Grit Joel Coen and Ethan Coen The novel by Charles Portis
Winter's Bone Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini The novel by Daniel Woodrell
2011[ 3]
The Descendants Alexander Payne , Jim Rash , and Nat Faxon The novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings
A Dangerous Method Christopher Hampton The play The Talking Cure by Hampton
Jane Eyre Moira Buffini The novel by Charlotte Brontë
Moneyball Aaron Sorkin , Steven Zaillian , and Stan Chervin The book by Michael Lewis
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan The novel by John le Carré
2012[ 4]
Argo Chris Terrio The book The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the article The Great Escape by Joshuah Bearman
Beasts of the Southern Wild Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin The play Juicy and Delicious by Alibar
Life of Pi David Magee The novel by Yann Martel
Lincoln Tony Kushner The book Team of Rivals Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky The novel by Chbosky
Silver Linings Playbook David O. Russell The novel by Matthew Quick
2013[ 5]
12 Years a Slave John Ridley The memoir by Solomon Northup
Captain Phillips Billy Ray The book A Captain's Duty Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty
Philomena Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope The book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
The Spectacular Now Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber The novel by Tim Tharp
What Maisie Knew Carroll Cartwright and Nancy Doyne
The novel by Henry James
2014[ 6]
The Imitation Game Graham Moore The book Alan Turing: The Enigma Andrew Hodges
Gone Girl Gillian Flynn The novel by Flynn
Inherent Vice Paul Thomas Anderson The novel by Thomas Pynchon
The Theory of Everything Anthony McCarten The book Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking by Jane Hawking
Wild Nick Hornby The memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail Cheryl Strayed
2015[ 7]
The Big Short Adam McKay and Charles Randolph The book by Michael Lewis
Brooklyn Nick Hornby The novel by Colm Tóibín
The End of the Tour Donald Margulies The memoir Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself David Lipsky
The Martian Drew Goddard The novel by Andy Weir
Room Emma Donoghue The novel by Donoghue
2016[ 8]
Moonlight Barry Jenkins The play Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Arrival Eric Heisserer The short story Story of Your Life Ted Chiang
Fences August Wilson The play by Wilson
Hidden Figures Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder The book by Margot Lee Shetterly
Lion Luke Davies The memoir A Long Way Home Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose
2017[ 9]
Call Me by Your Name James Ivory The novel by André Aciman
The Disaster Artist Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber The book by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell
Logan Scott Frank , Michael Green , and James Mangold The comics by John Romita Sr. and Len Wein
The Lost City of Z James Gray The book by David Grann
Molly's Game Aaron Sorkin The memoir by Molly Bloom
Mudbound Dee Rees and Virgil Williams The novel by Hillary Jordan
Wonder Woman Zack Snyder , Allan Heinberg , and Jason Fuchs The comic by William Moulton Marston
2018[ 10]
Leave No Trace Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini The novel My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Black Panther Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole The comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Can You Ever Forgive Me? Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty The memoir by Lee Israel
The Death of Stalin Armando Iannucci , David Schneider , and Ian Martin The comics La Mort de Staline
If Beale Street Could Talk Barry Jenkins The novel by James Baldwin
2019[ 11] [ 12]
Little Women Greta Gerwig The novel by Louisa May Alcott
Dark Waters Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan
The article "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare" by Nathaniel Rich
The Irishman Steven Zaillian The book I Heard You Paint Houses Charles Brandt
Jojo Rabbit Taika Waititi The novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
The Two Popes Anthony McCarten The play The Pope by McCarten
2020s
Year
Film
Nominees
Source Material
2020[ 13]
Nomadland Chloé Zhao The book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century Jessica Bruder
Bad Education Mike Makowsky The New York Robert Kolker
First Cow Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt The novel The Half-Life by Raymond
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Ruben Santiago-Hudson The play by August Wilson
One Night in Miami... Kemp Powers The play by Powers
2021[ 14]
The Lost Daughter Maggie Gyllenhaal The novel by Elena Ferrante
Dune Eric Roth , Jon Spaihts , and Denis Villeneuve The novel by Frank Herbert
Passing Rebecca Hall The novel by Nella Larsen
The Power of the Dog Jane Campion The novel by Thomas Savage
The Tragedy of Macbeth Joel Coen The play Macbeth William Shakespeare
2022[ 15]
Women Talking Sarah Polley The novel by Miriam Toews
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Guillermo del Toro , Patrick McHale , and Matthew Robbins The fairy tale The Adventures of Pinocchio Carlo Collodi
Living Kazuo Ishiguro The novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich Leo Tolstoy
She Said Rebecca Lenkiewicz The nonfiction book She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Top Gun: Maverick [ 16] Peter Craig , Ehren Kruger , Justin Marks , Christopher McQuarrie , and Eric Warren The characters from the 1983 California
2023[ 17]
American Fiction Cord Jefferson The novel Erasure Percival Everett
Killers of the Flower Moon Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese The nonfiction book by David Grann
Oppenheimer Christopher Nolan The nonfiction book American Prometheus Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
Origin Ava DuVernay The nonfiction book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Isabel Wilkerson
Poor Things Tony McNamara The novel by Alasdair Gray
2024[ 18]
Conclave Peter Straughan The novel by Robert Harris
A Complete Unknown James Mangold and Jay Cocks The book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald
Nickel Boys RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
The novel by Colson Whitehead
Sing Sing Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin , and John "Divine G" Whitfield
The Esquire article "The Sing Sing Follies" by John H. Richardson
The Wild Robot Chris Sanders and Peter Brown The novel by Peter Brown
Television
2010s
2020s
Literary Achievement
Ex Libris
2015 – Elaine Leventhal
2017 – Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan
2018 – Valerie and Ronald Sugar
2019 – George E. Isaacs
2020 – Glenn Sonnenberg
2021 – Greg Lucas
See also
References
^ "Scripter - About" . USC Libraries . 2015-08-30. Archived from the original on 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-05-01 .^ Kit, Borys (4 February 2011). " . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2011-04-02 . ^ Knegt, Peter. " . IndieWire . Retrieved 2012-02-19 . ^ Weisman, Jon. " . Variety . Retrieved 2013-02-09 . ^ " . The Hollywood Reporter . 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2014-02-08 .^ King, Susan. " . Sun-Sentinel.com . Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-20 . ^ " . The Hollywood Reporter . 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2016-02-20 .^ Robb, David. " . Deadline . Archived from the original on 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2017-02-11 . ^ Tapley, Kristopher (2018-02-11). " . Variety . Archived from the original on 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2018-05-01 . ^ Lewis, Hilary (2019-01-15). " . Variety . Archived from the original on 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-01-16 . ^ Hipes, Patrick (2019-12-18). "USC Scripter Awards: 'The Irishman', 'Fleabag' Among Nominees" . Deadline . Retrieved 2020-01-27 . ^ Drury, Sharareh (2020-01-24). " . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2020-01-27 . ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 26, 2021). "USC Scripter Awards Nominees Include 'Nomadland', 'One Night In Miami', 'Queen's Gambit', 'Unorthodox' . Deadline Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2021 . ^ Robb, David (February 26, 2021). "USC Scripter Awards: Maggie Gyllenhaal Wins For 'The Lost Daughter'; Danny Strong Tops TV With 'Dopesick' . Deadline Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2021 . ^ Davis, Clayton (January 18, 2023). "USC Scripter Awards 2023 Nominations: 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' Becomes First Animated Nominee, 'Top Gun: Maverick' Flies In" . Variety Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023 . ^ Tapley, Kris [@kristapley] (February 7, 2023). "I haven't seen this reported and I'm not sure why exactly it happened, but Paramount has withdrawn TOP GUN: MAVERICK from consideration in this year's USC Scripter Awards, leaving GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO, LIVING, SHE SAID and WOMEN TALKING as the four film nominees" (Tweet ). Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Twitter . ^ Davis, Clayton (January 17, 2024). "USC Scripter Awards 2024 Nominations: 'Origin' Surprises Alongside 'Oppenheimer' and 'Poor Things' . Variety . Retrieved January 17, 2024 . ^ Davis, Clayton (January 22, 2025). "USC Scripter Awards Nominations: 'The Wild Robot' Surprises Alongside 'Nickel Boys' and 'Sing Sing' . Variety . Retrieved January 23, 2025 .
External links
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
